Capital Predictions for Alternative Energy

When it comes to investment in alternative/renewable energy and technology, predictions vary as they usually do, but even more so when entering into unexplored territory — maybe because all the options are as yet to be laid out. Also, in another factor that plays in, according to various information sources, capital investment in alternative/renewable energy have not quite reached vogue status. However, one source relied upon by industry investors, New Energy Finance, provides the following financial predictions for investment in renewable energy:

Currently, only around $US20 billion per year is invested worldwide in renewable energy capacity, mainly wind and solar, with some biomass and biofuels. A further $5 billion is spent on research each year, particularly in hydrogen and fuel cells.
We expect this figure to grow to over $100 billion globally within a decade — a sustained compound annual growth rate of 15-20%.

Separately, here's one recent example of an Angel alternative/renewable energy investment as reported by the Associated Press:

Venture capitalist John Doerr made his name and fortune with early investments in Netscape Communications Corp., Amazon.com Inc., Google Inc. and other pioneering tech firms that went from scrappy startups to household names… "This field of greentech could be the largest economic opportunity of the 21st century," Doerr said. "There's never been a better time than now to start or accelerate a greentech venture."